ENLISTED FOR SERVICE
6/4/2009 – Burley, ID
Ricardo Rodriguez
Mark 8:34-36
“34Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”(NLT)
“34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”(KJV)
“34Y llamando á la gente con sus discípulos, les dijo: Cualquiera que quisiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese á sí mismo, y tome su cruz, y sígame. 35Porque el que quisiere salvar su vida, la perderá; y el que perdiere su vida por causa de mí y del evangelio, la salvará. 36Porque ¿qué aprovechará al hombre, si granjeare todo el mundo, y pierde su alma?”(RV)
Today I would like to talk to you about “Enlisting For Service”.
What does it take to be part of “God’s Army”?
David knew what it was to be part of the Army of God, it was God and David! God told Gideon, “I don’t need the multitude, I need a few faithful men”. Out of 32,000 men God chose 300 men. You see you and I would have been happy with 10%, God chose less than 1%. (.09375)
3. Divine Perfection or Completeness
5. Grace, God’s Goodness
7. Spiritual Perfection
9. Judgment; as 3 x 3, it signifies the Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit
A few years ago we heard of a young man, one of our very own Apostolic brothers, Texas young person, who had been held captive by the enemy forces while serving in the military, and we prayed for his freedom and God answered our prayers.
We have many men and women, friends and relatives who are service this great country.
We have among us men and women (relatives) who have served our country in military service.
• I would like to ask these men and women to stand.
We have ministers, deacons, Pastors and their wives, who serve in a very special Army.
• I would like to ask these men and women to stand.
We have young men and women who have just finished their high school education.
• I would like to ask these young people to stand.
We have young people and older who are preparing themselves through Higher Learning through Universities.
• I would like to ask these people to stand.
Each of you have a special calling in your life, the question is will we listen to His voice?
One of the apostles that knew what it was to be part of this great service,
“THE ARMY OF THE LORD”
was the APOSTLE PAUL.
ARMY:
6635 tsaba’ tsaw-baw’ or (feminine) tsbadah tseb-aw-aw’; from 6633; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship):--appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).
4753 strateuma strat’-yoo-mah from 4754; an armament, i.e. (by implication) a body of troops (more or less extensive or systematic):--army, soldier, man of war. see GREEK for 4754
4754 strateuomai strat-yoo’-om-ahee middle voice from the base of 4756; to serve in a military campaign; figuratively, to execute the apostolate (with its arduous duties and functions), to contend with carnal inclinations:--soldier, (go to) war(-fare). see GREEK for 4756
Before we can understand what Paul went through in “The Army of God” we must understand where he was before God got a hold of his heart.
Paul was A RELIGIOUS MAN, he was A PHARISEE, he knew the scriptures in his mind, but he did not know the Author of the scriptures as his personal Savior.
You can have much intellect and be absent from the grace of God but when God has a hold of your life God will give you the INTELLECT, GRACE, WISDOM AND BLESSINGS you will not be able to understand.
Paul was persecuting the early Christians until the day came when Jesus came into his life.
Mark 8:34-36
“34Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35IF YOU TRY TO HANG ON TO YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL LOSE IT. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36AND WHAT DO YOU BENEFIT IF YOU GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSE YOUR OWN SOUL?”
Paul was gaining prestige amongst the religious world at the cost of the lives of men and women who were lifting up the name of Jesus Christ.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO OR SAY AGAINST A MAN/WOMAN OF GOD.
Mark 9:41-42
“41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. 42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.”
“41Y cualquiera que os diere un vaso de agua en mi nombre, porque sois de Cristo, de cierto os digo que no perderá su recompensa. 42Y cualquiera que escandalizare á uno de estos pequeñitos que creen en mí, mejor le fuera si se le atase una piedra de molino al cuello, y fuera echado en la mar.”
I thank God for the young men and women who are willing to “Enlist For Service” in helping their Pastors in their local churches.
• I remember one occasion when visiting a church on a trip, never before had I been called “Pastor” so many times than on that weekend, I can tell you I heard the term “Pastor” more than I had heard it in 2 years Pastoring.
• Your Pastor needs to know that you are behind him and his family and the ministry of your local church.
Recently having a conversation with Elder Cesar Gonzalez, he shared with me the testimony of a young boy who would not mind anyone and was giving a lot of problems in his local church. As the Pastor would ask him to sit down he would say, “al ratito Pastorsito…”.
After some mentoring and much prayer, this young boy had an experience with God and now is one of the greatest servants in his local church. He truly is “Enlisted For Service.”
Mark 8:34
“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “IF ANY OF YOU WANTS TO BE MY FOLLOWER, YOU MUST TURN FROM YOUR SELFISH WAYS (ALL ABOUT ME ATTITUDE), TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.”
“Y llamando á la gente con sus discípulos, les dijo: CUALQUIERA QUE QUISIERE VENIR EN POS DE MÍ, NIÉGUESE Á SÍ MISMO, Y TOME SU CRUZ, Y SÍGAME.
Are you ready to be “Enlisted For Service”?
Here are some questions you should ask yourself to “Enlist For HIS Service”.
I. WHAT DEFINES YOU?
A. Are you trying to “FIT IT,” or do you want to be FAITHFUL
B. A TRUE CHRISTIAN FAITH will PERMEATE OUR LIVES
II. DOING WHAT’S RIGHT, EVEN WHEN IT HURTS
A. Sometimes when you take a stand you will be misunderstood and rejected by your friends
B. ARE YOU READY TO FOLLOW JESUS WHEN IT HURTS? If not, are you really following Him at all?
“If you don’t stand for something,
you will fall for anything.”
III. KNOWING WHEN AND HOW TO STAND
A. START WITH THE BIBLE
1. What does God’s Word have to say about the stand you want to take?
2. Don’t get caught up in obscure issues
B. EXAMINE YOURSELF
1. You’ve got to be living your life right before you start trying to tell others how to live their lives
Matthew 7:3-5
“3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
C. LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE (HOLY SPIRIT)
1. Our conscience is our God given sense of what is right and wrong
2. As we grow closer to God through our quiet time we find it is easier to figure out God’s direction in our lives
D. SEEK GODLY COUNSEL
1. Seek counsel from those who are more Godly than you are
2. Explain your conviction about the issue and what the Bible says about it
E. BE HUMBLE, LOVING AND BOLD
1. The attitude with which you take a stand says just as much as the stand itself
2. Remember, the stand you are taking is about the issue not yourself
F. BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
1. Don’t get a reputation for always being against everything
2. Be for something
IV. IF YOU WANT TO STAND, STAND NOW
A. God will give you strength to stand in any situation
B. Questions to ask yourself
1. Is there a stand you know you should be taking but haven’t?
2. Is there something in your life you know is wrong but continue to do it?
FINAL THOUGHT: DOING WHAT’S RIGHT ALWAYS MATTERS – AND IT MATTERS NOW.
ADAPTED FROM: STAND UP BY JERRY MCKEE
Are you willing to enlist in GOD’S ARMY with Christ serving your pastor family and those around you?
